Bears re-sign paceman Rae following Norwell exit

Michael Rae has already appeared twice for Warwickshire this season

Injury-hit Warwickshire have re-signed fast bowler Michael Rae for the remainder of the season to cover for the loss of pacemen Liam Norwell and Chris Rushworth.

Rushworth, 38, has not figured since suffering a leg injury against his old club Durham in the second County Championship game of the season back in April.

And Norwell, 32, has now parted company with the club after two whole seasons wrecked by injury.

New Zealander Rae, 29, impressed for the Bears during a first short-term spell of injury cover in May, taking eight wickets in two County Championship matches.

"He adds pace to the squad, and is a great character around the group," said Warwickshire performance director Gavin Larsen.

Rae will be available for the Championship run-in when red-ball cricket returns on 22 August, with the winless Bears only five points clear of trouble as they go into their final five games.

"Obviously we’re yet to get off the mark in terms of the wins column in the Championship," said Rae.

"So I’m looking to go out there, bowl top-of-off stump stuff with the odd bouncer, and do everything I can to contribute to a few wins and help us climb up the table.”

Norwell had 'terrible luck' with injury

The departure of Norwell from Edgbaston comes in the wake of being told he now needed further surgery on a pectoral muscle injury.

Norwell has not bowled in a first-class match since his amazing 9-62 on the final day of the 2022 County Championship season, which kept the seemingly doomed Bears in Division One.

The former Gloucestershire and England Lions man signed a new deal in April 2023 tying him to Edgbaston "until at least 2025".

But, after bowling 10 overs in a pre-season friendly against Worcestershire in March 2023, he then missed the entire 2023 campaign with a back injury.

He sent down six overs last July in a 50-over friendly against the South Asian Cricket Academy at the Bears' second home at Portland Road - and took two wickets in three overs in one of the Bears' three pre-season T20 friendlies out in Abu Dhabi.

After arriving in 2019, Liam Norwell took 94 wickets in 22 first-class matches for the Bears

He then returned to Second XI action in June, taking 11 wickets, but tore his pectoral muscle in the last of those against Worcestershire at Portland Road.

“I’m gutted for Liam because I know how hard he’s tried and trained to get back to full fitness," said Larsen.

"He’s been close to making a return on a few occasions but not quite got over the line.

“After finally overcoming the back injury, he suffered terrible luck by tearing his pec when he looked to be getting back to his best.

“He’s not played a senior game for almost 700 days now and, with another lengthy stint out following surgery, we have agreed with Liam to release him from his contract."

Rae in Bears' One-Day Cup squad

Rae has also been included in the Bears squad for Wednesday's final One-Day Cup game against Nottinghamshire at Rugby School.

Warwickshire have already qualified for the knock-out stages, but they are still hoping to finish top in Group B and go straight into Sunday's semi-final, with home advantage.

They would do that if they win - and Glamorgan don't. Or also if the Bears enjoy a particularly impressive victory and sneak above Glamorgan on a faster run-rate.

Both sides are currently locked at the top on 11 points, with Glamorgan ahead on a run rate of +0.989, compared to the Bears' +0.743.

If both Glamorgan and Warwickshire were to lose a second successive game, that would give third-placed Leicestershire a chance to top the group - if the holders can beat Gloucestershire at Bristol.